It took the combined intervention of the police, military and other security operatives to disperse a group of protesting IDPs on Tuesday.

Although, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday dismissed as misleading reports alleging that some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) staged a demonstration to protest lack of food at the Teachers’ Village IDPs camp in Maiduguri.

But a cross-section of the protesting IDPs, told NAN that they were demonstrating over lack of food and shelter in the camp since their arrival about 40 days ago.

The protesters were taking refuge at the camp since January, sequel to the displacement of households from their homes due to Boko Haram insurgents’ attack in Baga and adjourning communities in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno.

In a statement, Mr Sani Datti, the Head of Media and Public Relations of the agency, said that the protest was not triggered by lack of food and starvation in the camp, but rather due to the suspension of registration of the displaced persons by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Datti said: “for record and purpose of clarity, though there was protest by some IDPs living in Teachers Village Camp, Maiduguri, it was never caused by hunger or lack of food supplies.

“The protest was actually caused by interruption of profiling exercise of the IDPs by International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), who were at the camp to extend their humanitarian support to complement the effort of partners.
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“Consequently, some people outside made attempt to be enumerated and this prompted some IDPs in the camp to chase them away and it resulted in commotion and riot.

“However, the situation has been immediately brought under control by the security operatives stationed at the camp and normalcy restored,” Datti said.

Datti said that the agency had continued to provide food items monthly to the IDPs in camps, host communities and liberated areas in Borno and Adamawa States.

According to him, the agency had conducted the monthly food distribution exercise at the camp on January 15, 2019, for the households, adding that the food ration was expected to sustain the households for one month.

Some aggrieved IDPs had staged a demonstration on Tuesday in Maiduguri, to protest alleged lack of food and shelter at the camp.

Hundreds of the displaced persons took to the streets, blocked the Maiduguri-Kano Road, and destroyed billboards and campaign posters of political parties candidates mounted by the road.

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OLADIRAN JOSEPH OYEWUMI ( DIRAN O.Y.E ) is a seasoned and dynamic minister of God. He is a preacher, singer and songwriter, an author, a crusader for social justice and an ambassador for peace. His songs, messages and writings will electrify you and take you to the realm of blissful atmosphere. His music will get you on your feet to dance,to rejoice, to reflect and to rekindle hope. His work of music speaks well of him as a dynamic, warm and energetic person.